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Topics - WideEyedGirl

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1
World War Two / Base Army Post Office - post runner
« on: Friday 01 July 22 17:31 BST (UK)  »
Hello all,

My grandfather, Arthur Geoffrey Ashforth, was a Private in the York and Lancaster Regiment (1st and 6th battalion apparently).
My family know very little about his time in World War II, apart from that he served in Algiers (Algeria, Northern Africa) and Naples (Italy).

My father has mentioned that my Grandad Arthur was a post runner, and I have found documents that suggest he was in the Base Army Post Office. I can find little information about '15 BAPO' and even less about post runners in World War II.

So I was wondering if anyone here has any knowledge about BAPO and/or post runners in World War II, and/or any places I can look for information. I will attach two documents that mention the Base Army Post Office, just in case they contain information that I have missed (at the moment they are too large to post).

Many thanks for any help you can offer,
Holly

2
Other Countries / Help with Chinese ancestry - where to look
« on: Wednesday 21 July 21 00:44 BST (UK)  »
Hello all,
I'm helping a friend research his family tree, and his grandfather was Chinese. Apart from knowing his mother's name, there is little that they know about the family, and I really don't know where to start to look into the Chinese side of his family. I have tried contacting DNA relatives but either they didn't reply or didn't know anything about their Chinese ancestry.

Here's all the information that I have:
- Ah Choi Wong (British name), his Chinese name was Wong Tin Wo we believe. He was born (we think) on 7th December 1938 in Sha Tau Kok, near Hong Kong. We do not know if this date is correct as he did use someone else's passport to get into England after WW2, but he was definitely from Sha Tau Kok as he told stories about growing up there. His mother's name (we think this is a fake name from her passport) was Kiu Lee/Lee Kiu Wong. She wasn't married to Ah Choi's father - he said he would marry her and then ran off to Panama! So we don't even know Ah Choi's father's name, as he never spoke of him.

Ah Choi was married in Horncastle, Lincolnshire in 1962, England, to my friend's grandmother. He lived in Lincolnshire until he died on 20th March 2010. Family rumours said he was the first Chinese Free Mason in England.
His mother, Kiu Lee, also came over to England (we think about 1964), and she died in Grimsby in 1985. On her gravestone, it says that she was born 27th February 1911, and we think she was from mainland China (as opposed to Hong Kong).


To Note: these following men are said to be Ah Choi's cousins on his father's side.
- Benedicto 'Ben' Wong (went to Panama and started a business named after him - I did try to contact him via his company but got no reply. He is still alive and has 2 children in Panama)
- Florencio Wong (according to UK records, he was born 3rd June 1928 in China, and he died in Lincolnshire on 26th June 2004 - he married and had 3 children in England, but kept a house in Hong Kong).
- Vincent (maybe Victor) Wong (supposedly went to Panama in the 1950's).

There are also photos of a 'family reunion' at the family temple (that Benedicto had built) in (I believe) Sha Tau Kok, which pictures Ah Choi, his cousin Benedicto, and 27 others.

So I would really appreciate help with finding Ah Choi's family, and finding more out about his life - I don't even know where to start looking. I appreciate that it is going to be really difficult because of the fake names and passports. I would just really like pointers in the right direction.

Thank you for any help you can offer,
Holly

3
Gloucestershire / Hieron family of Woodchester, Gloucestershire. 1600's
« on: Saturday 17 July 21 23:16 BST (UK)  »
Hello all,

My 8x great grandfather is Samuel Hieron, baptised 11th November 1669 in Woodchester, Gloucestershire. According to this baptism, his father was John Hieron.
Samuel appears to have had at least 2 siblings; Giles (b.1672) and James (b.1675).

Samuel married Judith Nash, and the couple had at least two children; Judith (b.1715) and William.

I would really appreciate help with tracing Samuel's ancestors. All I know is that his father is named John Hieron, from Samuel's 1669 baptism in Woodchester.
It would be great to find some more about Samuel Hieron's life, and more about his parents and any more siblings that may have existed.

Thank you for any help you can offer,
Holly

4
Yorkshire (West Riding) / Matthew Ogden, besom maker of Birdwell
« on: Saturday 17 July 21 20:54 BST (UK)  »
Hello all,

My 8x great grandfather was Matthew Ogden (born approx 1693, died 1783). He was a besom (broom) maker of Birdwell, and married Mary Wood on 18th May 1725 at Wentworth (where he is said to be of the parish of Darfield).
They had 9 children together (all baptised at Worsbrough);
- Anthony (1725-1804) - my ancestor, also a besom maker.
- Matthew (1727-1728)
- Mary (b.1728)
- Sarah (1730-1732)
- Joseph (1732-1733)
- Martha (1734-1735)
- Anne (1736-1737)
- Charles (1738-1739)
- Peter (1740-1763)

Matthew Ogden then married Ann Wharam when his first wife died. They had the children;
- Hannah (b.1745)
- William (b.1747)
- Matthew (b.1748)

Matthew Ogden died, aged 90, in October 1783 in Worsbrough. He was buried 19th Oct 1783.

I cannot find Matthew Ogden's birth or baptism, and therefore his parents or siblings. I would really like to trace this family further back as they seem to have had an interesting occupation and heritage.
I found a picture of their home, Besom Cottage, online. And a local history page said that the Ogden family had the use of a swampy woodland called Rickley Wood, just behind Besom Cottage, where they harvested wood for making brooms. It is also noted that Besom Cottage 'showed signs of 18th century improvements as a measure of improving status and life-style', and says that the Ogden family had an association with the church.

Any help with finding more information, especially the baptism and parents, of Matthew Ogden would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Holly

5
Yorkshire (West Riding) / Susannah Oxspring, born approx 1758
« on: Saturday 17 July 21 19:59 BST (UK)  »
Hello all,
I am currently researching my 5x great grandmother Susannah Oxspring. Even though I have found her marriage, husband and children, I cannot find her baptism record, parents or siblings.

She married John Hammerton (1753-1837, a butcher) in Rotherham, Yorkshire on 29th November 1779. They are said to both be single, and both be of the parish.
They had many children together;
- Ann (b.1780)
- George (b.1783)
- John (b.1784)
- Richard (b.1787)
- Stephen (1789-1798)
- Thomas (1791-1791)
- William (b.1791)
- Thomas (b.1793)
- Mary (b.1795)
- Richard (b.1797)
- Elizabeth 'Betty' (b.1798)

Susannah died in April 1831, and is buried at Greasbrough, Yorkshire; 'Susan HAMMERTON, 73 (approx birth date 1758), of Eastwood'.

I cannot find any birth records for her, so I wondered if her maiden name was not Oxspring, and Oxspring was instead a married name. Despite this, I cannot find any marriages for a Susannah to a man with the surname Oxspring in the 10 years before her marriage (I presumed, with so many children, that a previous marriage can't have been that long before her marriage to John Hammerton).

Thank you for any help you can offer,
Holly



EDIT: I have just realised that I posted about this 4 years ago. Someone on that post pointed me to the Genuki registers, at Greasbrough. I have searched the 1747-1759 and 1760-1769 baptism registers at Greasbrough, and there are no baptisms of any Oxsprings there, only Oxley's.

6
Yorkshire (West Riding) / Is William Watson's wife Charlotte HAIGH or PIGOT?
« on: Friday 02 July 21 21:18 BST (UK)  »
Hello all,
I apologize if I have posted about this before, but I don't believe I have. I am revisiting a part of my tree that has always confused me.

My 5x great grandfather William Watson was born in 1763 in Wentworth, Yorkshire (he died 1822 in Thorpe Hesley).
I am a little confused on his marriages.

These are the children he had that I have found (he may have had more). They are all baptized at Wentworth;

- Sarah (born 1787, said to be daughter of Wm Watson and Charlotte, no mother's maiden name given).

- William (born 1792, said to be the son of Wm Watson and Charlotte HAIGH (father of Charlotte is recorded on the baptism as Richard HAIGH)).

- Maria (born 1795, said to be the daughter of Wm Watson and CHARLOTTE PIGGOT (parents of Charlotte are recorded as Wm and Anne Piggot of Conisbrough)).

So it seems either these are two different William Watson's, or William married two different Charlotte's.
I believe they are the same William, as they are all recorded as nailers/nail makers of Thorpe Hesley (which most of my line of Watson's are).
So then the question is the Charlotte's.

There is a record for a William Watson marrying a Charlotte 'Pigot' at Wadworth by Doncaster, near Conisbrough, on 19th September 1784. But why would William marry Charlotte PIGOT (in 1784), then have son William (b.1792) by Charlotte HAIGH, then have daughter Maria (b.1795) by Charlotte PIGOT?
I cannot find a marriage so far between William Watson and Charlotte Haigh, yet she is recorded as the mother of my ancestor William (b.1792).

Added to this, there is a burial of 'Charlotte Watson, wife of William Watson' at Wentworth in 1803 (27th July). She is said to be 40 years old, putting her approx. birth date at 1763... and there is a baptism of a Charlotte 'Pygot' at Conisbrough on 6th April 1763 (daughter of William Pygot, the same as on Maria's baptism record). I cannot find a birth record for a Charlotte Haigh in the immediate area around 1763.


So it's got me a little confused... what I primarily need to know is who is the mother of William's son William Watson (b.1792) as he is my ancestor. William is recorded as the son of Charlotte Haigh (and it even names her dad), but I cannot find a marriage or birth record for her name. Could 'Haigh' actually be a mistake, and she is in fact Charlotte Pigot? (But this wouldn't explain why her dad is recorded as Richard - how could they get the surname AND the parents' names wrong?).

One thing to note is that William Watson (1763-1822, the husband in this case) is the son of John Watson and Elizabeth HAIGH. So could the registrar have recorded William's mother's maiden name and not the child's mother's maiden name?

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for any advice you can offer.

Holly

7
Yorkshire (West Riding) / 18th Century Sacred Music Composer, Israel Holdroyd
« on: Monday 01 March 21 00:44 GMT (UK)  »
Hello all,

I'd really appreciate help with tracing my 7x great grandfather Israel Holdroyd.

His daughter Jane Holdroyd is my 6x great grandmother, and she was born in 1725 in Harewood, Yorkshire. Her father, Israel, is named on her baptism record.
From this, it appears her mother may be Mary Byles or Ryles, as there is a marriage between an Israel Holdroyd and a Mary Byles/Ryles at Bradford Cathedral on 9th June 1724 (Israel is said to be of Keighley, and Mary is said to be of Harewood). I haven't found any siblings yet.

I found a page about an Israel Holdroyd being a sacred music composer, I'll include the link below:
https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Israel_Holdroyd
Am I right in presuming this is my Israel? I don't know if it is an especially reliable source so I would be very grateful if anyone has any more information on Israel's music and his life. I've tried simply searching for 'Israel Holdroyd music composer' but I haven't had much luck. This Israel (linked above) had a publication in 1722, called 'The Spiritual Man's Companion'.

I'd also be very grateful if anyone knows any general information about music composers in the 1700's. I've never come across this occupation before in my family, so I'd love to know how someone that long ago could become a music composer. Was he likely from a well-to-do family, or a family that could at least afford his music education?

On that note, I'd love help in tracing his family.
There's two baptisms I have found, that I'll list below. Both are near Halifax, Yorkshire. I don't know which is likely to be my Israel.
1) Israel Holdroyd, baptised 26/06/1697, at Ripponden with Rishworth, St Bartholomew, Yorkshire, son of Wilfred Holdroyd.   
2) Israel Holdroyd, bap 25/12/1695, at Luddenden, Yorkshire, son of Joseph Holdroyd.

I haven't found Israel's death yet either. For the name 'Israel Holdroyd', there's many records on Ancestry and FamilySearch. These include Land Tax Records in 1783 and 1792 (too late for my Israel unless he reached a remarkable age) at Skircoat Green in Halifax. Could this be a relation?

There's also baptism and burial records for children of an Israel Holdroyd in Halifax in the 1750's and 1760's, whether or not this is my Israel is unclear. It appears he could've also had more than one marriage:

- Sally Holdroyd, baptised 15 Jul 1759 at Halifax, St John the Baptist, daughter of Israel Holdroyd.
- Betty Holdroyd, buried 16 Sep 1764 at Halifax, St John the Baptist, daughter of Israel Holdroyd.
- Marriage of Israel Holdroyd and Ann Lum, Jul 1750, Halifax, St John the Baptist.
- Marriage of Israel Holdroyd and Hannah Riley, 9 Feb 1754, Halifax, St John the Baptist.



Thank you for any help or advice you can offer,
Holly

8
Suffolk / William Reynolds Blogg, born in Suffolk - help finding his family
« on: Saturday 06 February 21 15:40 GMT (UK)  »
Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate help with finding the parents of William Reynolds Blogg, who may be from Suffolk.
Here's the information that I have for him already.

According to the 1841 census, William (written as W.R.Blogg, transcribed as U.R.Blogg) was not born in the county of Norfolk (Heigham). According to the 1851 census, he was born in Laxfield in Suffolk. Either way, he was born about 1788, but I can't seem to find a baptism record for him around this time in Suffolk.

On 5th October 1809 at St Andrew, Norwich, Norfolk, William (said to be a bachelor of the parish) married Hannah Maria Martin (spinster of the parish) by License. It was witnessed by a possible relation of William Reynolds Blogg - Sarah Blogg.

William seems to have been a haberdasher, and was living in Heigham in Norfolk in 1841 and 1851. In 1851, William's occupation is 'servant register office'. I have not found his death record yet, or censuses after 1851.

William Reynolds Blogg and Hannah Maria Martin had several children in Norfolk; these are the ones I have found so far -
- William Blogg (b.1810)
- Emma Blogg (b.1812)
- Edwin Martin Blogg (b.1814)
- Frederick Samuel Blogg (1817-1868)
- Ellen Sarah Blogg (b.1824)

Many thanks for any help,
Holly


9
Hello all,
I'm trying to research my partner's ancestry and I've become a little stuck with the transition between Lincolnshire and Scotland (and it's taking me extra time as I'm not familiar with Scottish geography at all).

John Gilchrist was baptized 1st Jan 1805 in Frampton, Lincolnshire, the son of Charles and Ann 'Gilchriste' (John has siblings called Charles, Ann, Robert, Catherine and Elizabeth).

I am looking into Charles Gilchrist's ancestry and life, and I'm struggling a bit. Charles married Catherine Robinson on 16th Aug 1798 in Boston, Lincolnshire (other family trees suggest Catherine is the same person as Ann mentioned above, and that her name is 'Catherine Ann Robinson').
I have not found Charles Gilchrist's death or burial records, although from records from other family trees on Ancestry, it looks like he was part of the Fifeshire Cavalry (I will research this but if anyone knows anything about this cavalry, I'd be very interested to hear your knowledge!).

Gilchrist is a Scottish name, so I presumed there would be Scottish ancestry somewhere up Charles' family line. On Ancestry, some family trees suggest his name is Charles Watson Gilchrist, and that he was the son of John Thomas G Gilchrist and Betty Struthers, although I've found no proof of the 'Watson' middle name for my Charles Gilchrist, not even on the marriage bond.  If these are his parents, then his baptism is: 4 Feb 1770 in Cramond, Midlothian, Scotland.
These same family trees list John Thomas G Gilchrist's probate, which says:

"Gilchrist, John, son of the deceased Thomas G., merchant, and late baillie of Dumfries 17 Dec 1783. "

So the family trees suggest a lineage of:
Charles Watson Gilchrist, son of John Thomas G Gilchrist
and John was the son of Thomas G (a merchant and baillie of Dumfries).

I would really appreciate any help with finding out whether my Charles Gilchrist is 'Charles Watson Gilchrist' as mentioned above, and any more information available about the family.

Many thanks for any help you can offer,
Holly

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